Railroad switch-stand.



0. A. ALDEN.

RAILROAD SWITCH STAND. APPLICATION FILED 001212, 1914.

1,124,576, Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

i I- Y 6 THE NORRIS PETERS 60., FHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D. C,

CHARLES A. ALDEN, 0F STEELTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD SWITCH-STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 12, 1915.

Application filed October 12, 1914. Serial No. 866,182.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. ALDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Steelton, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a railroad switch stand of novel, simple and etlicient construction having provision whereby a hand lever may cause the actuation of both the switch operating shaft and a rod adapted to operate a derailing switch or a distant signal, the hand lever being secured on one end of a shaft and being operatively connected to the switch operating shaft, and the said rod being pivoted on a crank arm which is secured on the other end of the shaft carrying the hand lever.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel means to prevent accumulation of dirt and the consequent choking of the parts employed in turning the switch operating shaft; and a further object of my invention is to provide various novel features of construction and combinations of parts whereby advantages are gained.

My invented device consists of the elements and the combinations of them hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention: Figure 1, is a plan of my improved switch stand. Fig. 2, is an elevation thereof. Fig. 3, is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, after first raising the hand lever to the vertical or central position.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates the switch stand frame, including a central floor portion 1 and end plates or flanges 5, adapted to rest upon and to be secured to two adjacent cross ties in the usual manner, suitable spike holes being provided in the plates 5 for that purpose. I The vertical switch operating shaft 6 is mounted to turn in a bearing 7 which is formed on the frame 2, the shaft 6, extending above and below the bearing 7.

Secured to the upper portion of the shaft 6 is a member 8 which will be presently referred to, and secured to the lower portion of the shaft 6 is the usual crank arm 9 to which the switch rod 10 is connected in the usual manner. The member 8 rests upon the top of the bearing 7 and is provided with a downwardly extending flange or apron 11 which surrounds the bearing '4' and protects the same against dirt, water, etc. The member 8 has a groove 12 formed therein between vertically extending walls, the lower portion of the groove 12 extending vertically and the upper portion thereof being curved inwardly toward the shaft 6, as shown.

Adjacent to the groove 12 is a hand le ver 13 secured to the inner end of a horizontal shaft 14 which is mounted to turn in a bearing 15 formed on the frame 2. The lever 13 has two end portions 16 and 17 which are offset from each other longitudinally of the shaft 1 1- and are connected by an inclined portion 18. tic-us 16 and 17 extend substantially at right angles to the axis of the shaft 1 1, the portion 16 being secured on the shaft 14 and the free end of the portion 17 having a suitable handle formed thereon.

The inclined portion 18 carries a proiecting pin 19 which extends into an opening in a square block 20 and on which the block may turn. The block 2.0 is located within the groove 12 and has two opposite faces slidablv fitted against the vertical side walls of the slot 12, whereby. when the hand lever 13 is moved over the adiacent side of the member 8 from the position shown on the left hand side thereof to a similar position on the right hand side there f, the block 20 will mo e first upwardly and then downwardly through the groove 12 and act upon the side walls thereof in a manner to turn the member 8 and therewith the shaft 6 a quarter revolution for the operation of the switch in the usual well known manner.

The outer end of the shaft 1 1 extends beyond the bearing 15 and has a crank arm 21 secured thereon. The crank arm 21 carries a pivot pin 22 having one end of an operating rod 23 connected thereto, as shown. The other end of the operating rod 23 may be suitably connected to a derailing switch or distant signal or any other device desired to be operated when the switch is operated, so that when the hand lever 13 is moved from side to side of the member 8 to operate the switch, the rod 23 will also be actuated to operate or set the device to which it is connected,

The end por- The bottom of the groove 12 is open and unobstructed, and, in all positions of the member 8, the bottom of the groove 12 is over an opening24 in the floor portion 4 of the switch stand frame, from which it will be readily understood that no dirt or foreign matter of any kind can accumulate within the lower portion of the groove to interfere with the proper working of the device, the downward movement of the block always acting to force such dirt or foreign matter from the groove andthrough the opening 2 1.

The plates 5 are provided with upwardly extending lugs 25 which are adapted to enter an opening 26 in and extend above the hand lever 13 in either position thereof, the lugs 25 being provided with openings above the lever 13 to receive a suitable look to prevent the lever from being raised from either lug.

I claim- 1. In a switch stand, the combination of a frame, a vertical switch operating shaft mounted to turn therein, a horizontal shaft mounted to turn in said frame, a hand lever fixed on one end of the horizontal shaft, means operated by the hand lever for turning the switch operating shaft, crank arin fixed on the other end of the horizontal shaft, and an operating rod pivoted on and extending from the crank arm.

2. In a switch stand, the Combination of a frame, a vertical switch operating shaft mounted to turn therein, a member fixed on said shaft and having a groove formed therein between vertically I extending side walls thereof, a horizontal shaft mounted to turn in said frame,a hand lever fixed on one end of the horizontal shaft, said hand lever having a part extending into said groove and adapted toengage the side walls thereof,wherebywhen the hand lever is operated said part will engage the side walls of said groove and turn said member, a crank arm fixed on the other end of the horizontal shaft, and an operating rod pivoted 'on and extending fromthe crank arm. g 3. In a switch stand,.the combination of a frame, a vertical switch operating shaft mounted to turn therein, a member fixed on said shaft and having a groove formed therein between vertically extending side walls thereof, a horizontal shaft mounted to turn in said frame, a hand l'ever having one of its end portions fixed on one end of the horizontal shaft, the two end portions of the hand lever extending substantially at right angles to the axis of the horizontal and being connected by an inclined portion adapted to pass over said member when the lever is operated, said inclined portion having a part extending into said groove and adapted to engage the side walls thereof, whereby when the hand lever is operated said part will engage the side walls of said hand lever on the horizontal shaft and having a part extending into said groove and adapted to engage the side walls thereof, whereby when the hand lever is operated said part will engage the side walls of said groove and turn said member.

5. In a switch stand, the combination of a frame provided with a floor portion having an opening therein, a member fixed on said shaft and having a groove formed therein between vertically extending side walls thereof, said groove having an open bottom located over the opening in said floor portion, and a hand lever on thehorizontal shaft and having a part extending into said groove and adapted to engage the side walls thereof, whereby when the hand lever is o )'erated said part will engage the side walls of said groove and turn said member. I

6. In a switch stand, the combination of a frame having a bearing extending upwardly therefrom, vertical switch operating shaft moiinted to turn in said bearing, a member secured to said shaft and resting upon said bearing and havlng a downwardly extend ing apron surrounding said bearing, a hand lever, and means operated by said lever to turn said member.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two wltnesses.

CHARLES A. ALDEN.

Witnesses:

Enwm 'G. Linens, CHARLES A. Gn'orr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five nts each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents, Washington, D. 0. 

